First Indians: 16 Maharashtra Women Create History By Going For Hajj Without Male Relatives

For the first time since the Haj Committee of India implemented the Saudi government’s relaxation which allowed women over the age of 45 to go for Hajj unaccompanied by a male kin, over a dozen of them from Maharashtra will soon embark on their pilgrimage.

One of them is 62-year-old Shamshadabai Isarail Sayeed who had originally planned to travel to the holy sites this year with her husband. But after the death of her husband, her son Jakeriya Isarail had promised to accompany her. However, following the change in the rules, he decided to let them travel unaccompanied as they had a group of four, as mandated by the new rules.

AFP/ REPRESENTATIONAL IMAGE